Introduction
Let’s start with statistical based data. According to a study, around 2.8% of the energy generated in the USA is solar energy. This energy generation also constitutes 13.5% of renewable energy. In terms of the size and energy needs of the country, the figures are paltry.
But the US policymakers have been successful in creating awareness of solar energy. Now experts and enthusiasts are discussing the storage of solar energy. Research and development are being carried out on solar energy storage. There is nitty-gritty to solar energy storage. Let us expand the discussion so that you understand things clearly.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is any type of energy that can be generated by the sun. This energy is created by nuclear fusion. To create the energy, you have to install solar photovoltaic cells. This energy is stored when the sun’s rays fall on the solar panels. This is indeed a revolution in the area of energy production.
Millions of households on earth are enjoying solar energy as it is said that the energy is free to use and saves money. Furthermore, this energy comes under renewal energy. This means the energy will never deplete. So study how many solar panels you need. Call an expert.
There are many countries on earth that are working towards clean and green technology. Massive spending is going on so that it creates clear and green energy.
How Can Solar Energy Be Stored?
Looking at the possibilities of solar energy, the stakeholders are developing technology to store solar. Among the few technologies available on solar energy storage batteries are the most pronounced ones.
When solar energy is inserted or powered into a battery, a chemical reaction takes place within the batteries. Thus energy gets stored in the cells. When the batteries get charged with the power, the energy gets stored.
1. Lithium-ion Batteries
Different metals are used to store solar energy. Out of them, lithium is the most successful to date. Lithium-ion batteries are the cheapest and most widely available medium to store energy. According to a US-based study, around 7.5 Gigawatts of energy will be stored by 2025. This is indeed a steady development in solar energy storage.
2. Grid Energy Storage
There are solar grids in which the stakeholders store solar energy. There has been an increase in the rate of solar storage. For instance, in the United States, the amount of energy storage is a 240% increase. Hence, it paves a new way in the direction. Work is going on in providing grid energy storage. This energy is intended to be used for commercial purposes.
3. Compressed Air
Among the different technologies, compressed air is the cheapest. It takes around $104/ kWh to make a cost-effective technology. This makes it the most cost-effective mechanical storage. Again like grid energy storage, this is also meant for large-scale applications.
How Long Does The Charge On Batteries Last?
Like other batteries, you will also have to charge solar-powered batteries. They are generally of high quality and last long. There are different ranges of solar batteries available in the market. Their longevity, or you can say shelf life depends on the quality of the batteries.
But you could say that good quality solar batteries last for around 20 years. The good ones, made by Tesla, have better qualities and last long (approximately seven days). In general batteries, the charge stays for around 4 to 5 days.
The Benefits Of Solar Energy Storage
Various data can tell you that the world is moving towards energy deficiency. Therefore you can be sure and certain that the world needs to go for alternative sources to extract power.
Therefore the concerned stakeholders are spending dollars to manufacture more energy-efficient grids. Large-scale energy storage unquestionably has its benefits. There are a few benefits of solar energy storage.
1. Balancing The Electric Loads
Solar energy storage can be very useful in peak hours. This is because an unhindered supply of energy is required during peak hours. But, if you do not get sufficient sunlight to heat the solar panels, you will feel a shortage of energy.
Therefore, you can say that the extra energy that is stored in the power grids or batteries can be used. So this is how things happen.
2. Energy Resilience
You know that thermal plants run by coal can be vulnerable sometimes. During this time, energy turns out to be deficient.
That time the stored solar energy can make up for the disruption. They can provide electricity till things get restored to normalcy. Therefore, energy resilience is one of the big points of solar resilience.
3. Saving Electric bills
The cost of electricity is increasing with the passage of time. Rising electricity bills can be a problem for the general household and commercial space. Solar energy is free to use. If you use it intelligently, you will be able to save your electricity bills.
Solar-powered cells can indeed be one of the areas through which you can save your hard-earned dollars. Therefore, there is nothing better if you are able to store electricity and use it to save your dollars.
4. Reduction Of Carbon Footprint
The world is projected to let around 40.6 billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere by the year 2022. If it goes on like this, there may be a rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Therefore the threats loom large on humanity.
So if the world needs to stop this vicious development, it needs to work on using carbon footprint. So technologies are being developed so that the world can reduce its carbon footprint. Therefore the world must go toward safeguarding solar energy.
Bringing The Discussion On Close
Traditional thermal energy is depleting, and therefore the world needs to move towards alternative sources of energy. Solar energy is touted as one of the major sources of clean and green energy. But safeguarding the technology is not enough, and it requires a great deal of spending.
There are different ways through which solar energy can be used to store. The stakeholders, right from the government; the private partners; and end users, need to work so that solar energy savings can be made better.
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